Airtight tubular coupling



March 21, 1950 v a F. MARTINET ETAL 2,500,955

AIRTIGHT TUBULAR coUPLING Filedoct. 13. 194e Patented Mar. 21, 1950 AIRTIGHT TUBULAR COUPLING Eugene F. Martinet, Cleveland, and Stanley J. Cedik, Euclid, Ohio, assignors to The P. A. Geier Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 13, 1948. Serial No. 54,284

Y (Ci. 285-2) 5 Claims. l

The invention relates to airtight tubular couplings in general, and to airtight swiveling tubular couplings in particular. and more particularly to airtight swiveling tubular couplings adapted for use in suction cleaners of the tank or other type where separable swiveling airtight connections are desired between suction inlet or outlet ends of the cleaners and attachment hose., tubes, nozzles and the like.

Particularly, in tank type suction cleaners, re-

cent improvements in fan and fan housing coni struction have increased the suction at the inlet end of the tanks to such an extent that usual forms of swiveling tubular couplings used to connect the inlet ends of the tanks with hose, tubes, nozzles and the like, prior to the present improvements, have been found to be ineffective. and to be subject to air leakage at the coupling.

The objects of the present invention or discovery include the provision of improved swivellng tubular couplings, particularly adapted for use in section cleaners of the tank type and in which their is substantially no air leakage.

Further objects of the present invention or discovery include the provision of an airtight swiveling tubular coupling having a simplified arrangement of parts, permitting economical manufacture, and convenience in use.

'I'he foregoing and other objects are attained by the swiveling tubular couplings, parts, combinations, and subcombinations, which comprise the present invention or discovery and the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, and preferred embodiments of which are set forth in thefollowing description, and

which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the improved swiveling tubular coupling of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including an outer tubular sleeve including walls forming an inwardly extending annular flange and an inwardly opening annular groove, an inner tubular sleeve telescoped within the outer tubular sleeve, the inner tubular sleeve having an outer surface formed with an outwardly opening groove, and the groove of the inner tubular sleeve swivel engaging the inner edge of the inwardly extending flange of the outer sleeve, an annular sealing gasket located in the inwardly opening groove of the outer sleeve and being in sealing abutment with a portion of the outer surface ofthe inner sleeve, and the outer sleeve having formed therein one or more bayonet joint connecting slots and having an annular shoulder spaced inwardly from the connecting slots, and an annular thrust gasket seated against the shoulder.

By way of example, embodiments of the improved swiveling tubular coupling of the present invention or discovery are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view, with portions shown in section, of a horizontal tank type suction cleaner including one embodiment of the improved swiveling tubular coupling hereof Fig. 2 is an enlarged. detached longitudinal sectional view of the improved swiveling tubular coupling of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the tank connecting sub-assembly of the coupling of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, showing the hose connecting sub-assembly of the coupling of Fig. 2, prior to being assembled with the tank connecting sub-assembly of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a second embodiment of the improved swiveling tubular coupling hereof.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, there is illustrated one embodiment indicated generally by I0 of the improved swiveling tubular coupling hereof, which in Fig. l is shown connected with a horizontal tank, type suction cleaner indicated generally by II and which includes in combination with other usual tank type suction cleaner parts, a tank IZ having an annular inlet end I3, which has a cylindrical outer face I4 from which extend radially outwardly one or more bayonet joint lock pins I5.

The improved swiveling tubular coupling IU includes an annular connector end I6 having formed therein one or more bayonet joint locking slots I1, and having an inner cylindrical face I8 adapted to telescopingly t over the cylindrical outer face I4 of the annular end I3 of the suction cleaner tank I2, and adapted to rotate thereon for locking engagement of the slots I1 with the pins I5, as shown in Fig. 1.

The annular end I6 of the coupling III, as shown and preferably is one end portion of an outer one-piece sleeve I9 formed of thin walled metal tubing. Intermediate the ends of the sleeve I9, there is formed a shoulder portion 20 extending inwardly from the inner end of the annular connector end portionl IE, and from the inner end of i 3 the shoulder portion 20, there extends an elongated tapered .tubular handle and cover portion 2|.

'I'he handle and cover portion 2| of the sleeve I9 includes a cylindrical inner face portion 22 adjacent the inner end of the shoulder portion 20, and a channel ring 23 includes' a cylindrical web 24 `having an outer cylindrical face 25 abutting the inner cylindrical face portion 22 of the handle and cover portion 2| of the sleeve I9. 'I he channel 23 is preferably formed of sheet metal and has its web 24 connected to the handle and cover portion 2| of the sleeve I 9 as by spot welds 26.

The channel 23 includes at one side an annular leg flange 21, and at the other side an annular leg flange 28, the channel leg flanges extending` inwardly towards the longitudinal axis of the connector I 0, indicated by the dot-dash line 29.

The channel leg flange 21 iswider than the channel leg ilange 28, and the channel leg flange 21 has an inner annular edge 3D, and the channel leg ange 28 has an inner annular edge 3| offset radially outwardly from the inner edge 30.

In the inwardly opening groove of the channel 23, there is seated a sealing gasket 32 constituting an annular ring of resilient material such as rubber, and the sealing gasket 32 has an inner cylindrical face 33 which protrudes inwardly beyond the inner edges 30 and 3| of the channel leg ilangw in the tank connecting sub-assembly III-I shown in Fig. 3, before assembly with the hose connecting sub-assembly Ill-2 shown in Fig. 4. The tank connecting sub-assembly I 4 also includes a thrust gasket 34 constituting an annular ring of resilient material such as rubber which may have a transversely cylindrical crosssection, and which is seated against the inner face of the outer sleeve shoulder portion and the outer face of the channel leg 21.

The hose connecting sub-assembly I0-2 is shown in Fig. 4 before assembly with the tank connecting sub-assembly III-I and includes an inner cylindrical sleeve 35 having an outer cylindrical'iace 36 and an inner cylindrical face 31, and adjacent one end portionv 38 of the inner sleeve 35 there is formed in its outer cylindrical face'36 an outwardly opening annular groove 39. A cylindrically tubular hose 40 has an outer cylindrical face 4I and one end 42 of the hose extends into the inner sleeve 35, the outer cylindrical face 4I of the hose 40 tting the inner cylindrical face 31 of the sleeve 35, and the end l2 of the hose 4U being connected with the sleeve 35 as by rivets 43.

In assembling the hose connecting sub-assembly I 0-2 with the tank connecting sub-assembly IIi-I to make the complete swiveiing tubular coupling I0 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the sleeve 35 is inserted into the smaller end 44 of the'handle and cover portion 2| of the outer sleeve I9, with the groove 39 aligned with the channel ilange 21 and the end portion 38 of the inner sleeve 35 is expanded so as to engage the groove 39 with the inner edge 30 of the channel flange 21 providing a swiveling connection of the coupling inner sleeve 35 with the coupling outer sleeve I9. After the assembly of the complete swiveiing tubular coupling III, the annular resilient gasket 32 is compressed and forms an airtight seal between the outer sleeve I9 and the inner sleeve 35.

When the separable swiveiing tubular coupling Ill is connected with the annular inlet end I3 of the suction cleaner II as shown in Fig. 1, the thrust gasket 3L is compressedin sealing the abutment with the end face oi' the annular inlet end I3.

In Fig. 5, there is illustrated a second embodiment indicated generally by IIO of the improved swiveling tubular coupling hereof, and which is. functionally similar to the first embodiment IB, but which includes different materials and a dif ferent arrangement of certain parts. The swivel ing tubular coupling IIIl includes an annular connector end I I 6 which is formed of sheet metal and has an inwardly extending annular flange IIB-I, and which has formed therein one or more bayonet joint locking slots |I1. An outer sleeve I I9 made of resilient material such as rubber has an outer counterbored annular socket IIS-I formed therein in which the iianged annular connector end IIE is seated. The outer sleeve I|9 also has formed therein an inwardly opening annular groove IIS-2 in which is seated an annular sealing gasket |32 made of resilient material such as felt as shown. An inner metal sleeve |35 has a swivel connection with the ange IIS-I, similar to the swivel connection of the.

sleeve 35 with the ange 21 in the coupling III` The sleeve |35 is connected with the telescoped end |42 of a hose Illi.

The sealing gasket |32 provides an airtight seal between the outer sleeve I I9 and the inner sleeve |35. A thrust gasket |33 similar to the thrust gasket 34 is seated in the socket II9I.

In each of the swiveiing tubular couplings I|l and III), the construction and arrangement of the parts provide a freely swiveiing and airtight coupling which prevents air leakage when connected with a suction cleaner such as the suction cleaner II.

The embodiments of the present invention or discovery illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the same or to the par"- ticular details thereof, but is commensurate with any and all novel subject matter contained herein which may at any time properly under the patent laws be set forth in claims hereof or originating hereinl the elements of any such claims being in'- tended to include their reasonable equivalents.

We claim:

l. In a swiveiing tubular coupling, an outer tubular sleeve including walls forming an inwardly extending annular flange and an inwardly opening annular groove, an inner tubular sleeve telescoped within the outer tubular sleeve, the inner tubular sleeve having an outer surface formed with an outwardly opening annular groove, and the groove of the inner tubular sleeve swivel engaging the inner edge of the inwardly extending flange of the outer sleeve, -an annular sealing gasket located in the inwardly opening groove of the outer sleeve and the annular sealing gasket being in sealing abutment with a portion of the outer surface of the inner sleeve, and the outer sleeve having formed therein one or more bayonet joint connecting slots and having an annular shoulder spaced inwardly from the bayonet joint connecting slots, and an annular thrust gasket seated against the shoulder.

2. In a swiveling tubular coupling, an outer tubular sleeve including walls forming an inwardly extending annular iiange and an inwardly opening annular groove, an inner tubular sleeve telescoped within the outer tubular sleeve, the inner tubular sleeve having an outer surface formed with an outwardly opening annular groove, and the groove of the inner tubular sleeve swivel engaging the inner edge of the inwardly extending ilange of the outer sleeve, an annular sealing gasket located in the inwardlyvopening groove of the outer sleeve and the annular sealing gasket being in sealing abutment with a portion of the outer surface of the inner sleeve.

3. In a swiveling tubular coupling, an outer tubular sleeve, an annular channel located within the outer tubular sleeve, the annular channel including a web and spaced annular leg anges at opposite sides of the web, one of the channel leg iianges being wider than the other, and means connecting the channel within the outer tubular sleeve and with the outer face of the channel in abutment with the inner face of the outer tubular sleeve, and the channel web and flanges forming an inwardly opening groove, an inner tubular sleeve telescoped within the outer tubular sleeve, the inner sleeve having an outer surface formed -with an outwardly opening annular groove, and

the groove of the inner tubular sleeve swivel engaging the inner edge of the wider channel leg flange, an annular sealing gasket in the inwardly opening groove of the channel and the annular sealing gasket being in sealing abutment with a portion of the outersurface of the inner sleeve, and the outer sleeve having formed therein one or more bayonet joint connecting slots and having an annular shoulder spaced inwardly from the bayonet joint connecting slots, and an annular thrust gasket seated against the shoulder.

4. In a swiveling tubular coupling, an outer tubular sleeve, an annular channel located within the outer tubular sleeve, the annular channel includlng a web and spaced annular leg ilanges at opposite sides of the web, one oi' the channel leg flanges being wider than the other, and means connecting the channel within the outer tubula sleeve and with the outer face of the channel i1 abutment with the inner face of the outer tubula: sleeve, and the channel web and anges forminx an inwardly opening groove, an inner tubula: sleeve telescoped within the outer tubular sleeve the inner sleeve having an outer surface forme( with an outwardly opening annular groove, am the groove of the inner tubular sleeve swivel engaging the inner edge of the wider channel leg flange, an annular sealing gasket in the inwardl: opening groove of the channel and the annulai sealing gasket being in sealing abutment with i portion of the outer surface of the inner sleeve.

5. In a swiveling tubular coupling, an outei tubular sleeve including walls forming an inwardly extending annular flange and an inwardl; opening annular groove, an inner tubular sleeve telescoped within the outer tubular sleeve, the inner tubular sleeve having an outer surface formed with an outwardly opening annulai groove, and the groove of the inner tubular sleeve swivel engaging the inner edge of the inwardly extending ilange of the outer sleeve, an annular sealing gasket located in the inwardly opening 'groove of the outer sleeve and the annular sealing gasket being in sealing butment with a portion oi the outer surface of he inner sleeve, and the outer sleeve having one or more joint engaging means and having an annular shoulder spaced inwardly from the joint engaging means, and an annular thrust gasket seated against the shoulder.

EUGENE F. MAR'IINET. STANLEY J. CEDIK.

No references cited. 

